The Vancouver School Board issued it's 2016/17 preliminary budget plan on March 31. Due to an estimated $27M shortfall, many significant cuts are proposed. Over 200 positions are on the chopping block and many students will be affected.

Some cuts that might get you fired up ... the entire elementary Strings Program, cuts in Arts & Athletics funding, some Special Needs consultants and teacher mentors, huge cuts to the Gifted Programs (including challenge centre teachers, the gifted mentor, and a psychologist). The proposed budget can be found here.

What can you do?

Parents and students can write letters to the VSB and VSB trustees (trustee email addresses are below), sharing their stories of what Strings, Gifted Education, Special Needs support, etc means to them and their children. budget2016_2017@vsb.bc.ca

Parents and students should also write letters to their MLAs, Premier Christy Clark, and the Minister of Education. It is time to stand up for public education in BC! Please cc the VSB trustees when you send these letters. Mike Bernier: educ.minister@gov.bc.ca, Christy Clark: premier@gov.bc.ca (you will also find MLA addresses at the bottom of this email)

Parents and students can sign up to speak at the April 12 public hearing. (Email: budget2016-2017@vsb.bc.ca if you wish to register to present at this meeting.)

Parents and students can simply show up at the hearing with signs and support

Show Up for BC Education! Public Input meeting: Tuesday April 12 at 6pm at Mt Pleasant elementary School (a second meeting will be held on April 14 if needed)

Share this info with parents at other Vancouver schools

It is time for action ... please write a letter and speak to others about it. The ball is rolling ...Thanks for the support!

A "not so fun" fact:The average BC annual funding per student is $12,133 whereas the Canadian average is $12,377. This difference would be about $17M annually in the Vancouver School Board alone (getting close to the $27M shortfall!).